Devils Lake inter-ocean. (Devils Lake, Ramsey Co., Dakota [N.D.]) 1884-1905, 1887-12-03

FROM that city westward
to Bridgeport was twenty-eight miles fur
But the nearest way to Bridgeport
was not through CHATTANOOGA, but fur
south, and by that route it was not
distant more than thirty five or forty
miles. The direct course was at right
with the numerous mountain
which here run almost north and
south. a route over which cavalry could
not be used, and which was known to
more than one Of our party. Two COM
rades had pocket compasses which would
have guided us in thick woods or in
weather by day or night. Now to
have left our train in a body, and without
delaying to seek concealment, to have
over the streams and mountains at
right angles, as rapidly rs We could go,
would have been our most hopeful
course. Long before night of the
hex day we would have been safe
within Mitchel's lines! Why not. How
could the enemy have captured us? If
they sent cavalry, these would necessarily
have made long circuits and have been
obliged to adhere to the lines Of the road.
and thus could not have come near us
while clinging to the valleys and the
mountain sides. Even in thick woods
they could not have overtaken us. II
they followed us with a strong party Oh
foot, we fleeing for our lives, would not
have deserved to escape, if we could not
have held our distance for forty miles or
more. II they had ridden ahead and
raised the whole country for a general
man hunt, they would have had only
twenty-four hours or less to organize it,
and no small party then could have ar
rested twenty armed men. In fine, this
plan of escape through a mountainous
and densely wooded country did not up
pear to me to be more dangerous than u
cavalry dash on the lines of the enemy's
communications-an every day military
affair. Even if Mitchell did not prove to
be in the neighborhood Of Bridgeport
when we arrived, we would then have
been in the loyal mountainous district
where we would have met as many friends
as foes. All that we needed in the way OF
provisions anu guides our force would
have enabled us to command, and ever
guns and ammunition could readily have
been gathered on our way.
But all these advantages depended on
II keeping together under one head. An
army scattered and disorganized is lost;
n our little army was no exception.
The fatal command which Andrews now
gave rs we were huddlcd together in the
wood box Of the tender was to Jump off,
II by one, scatter in the woods. and cacl,
man strive to make his own way back to
the Union armyl We hcsitated, but had
no concert Of action, no leader, no time
for council, and the instinct of obedience
was still strong upon us; but il was u
fatal order, and led directly to the calami-
ties that followed. 1t transformed us in
Il moment from n formidable body of
picked soldiers, ready 10 tight to death,
into u scattered mass Of fugitive boys. he.
wtldered and hopeless in an enemy's
country.
Yet no n of us felt like %ccnsuring our
leader for this order, which every one at
tho moment believed to be Il terrible mis-
take. Probably he thought that each
man of the party would find relief in
being cast entirely on his own resources.
1t must further be remembered, in cX-
PLANTATION of this mistaken order, that
Andrews had slept one the night before,
that he had been nearly twenty-four hours
without food, and that he had spent nearly
two days and a night in the most exhaust
ing labors, both mental and physical, that
it is possible to conceive. lie had seen his
cherished plans, when on the brink Of sue
cess, overthrow by what seemed the re
morsclcss hand of destiny. TO the many
failures and sorrows of his past life had
been added the browning misfortune OF
this defeat. Perhaps under his calm brow
he realized this with an intensity of
anguish, and felt that the greatest favor
he could do those he had led within sight
OF II horrible death. and into the presence
of nj cnragcl and triumphant foe, was to
separate them Mt once from his own dark
and Swallowed destiny. II so, that was
the most fearful mistake Of all; and as this
order was given, we could almost, us we
looked southwark through the driving
rain and the storm clouds, behold already
the dark outline Of the Atlanta scatfolds!
1t was pitiful! The General had served
us well ever since the morning hour in
fearful speed and patient waiting, in cX-
ultlng raptures and In almost despair. II
was hard to abandon her now. She was
substantially uninjured. The engineers,
Brown and Knight, had taken good care
Of her, and with wood and oil in abund-
Hncc, there would have been no difficulty
on her part in completing the run to
Huntsville. She was still jogging along
at the rate Of eight or ten miles an hour,
and could maintain that pace Il little
longer. The p%ursucrs had also diminished
their speed, SO rs to just keep lis In sight,
having apparently no wish TO press upon
what may have seemed to them like Il
wounded and dying lion. The command
to Jump off and scatter was repeated
with the injunction to be quick about IT,,
as the engineer wished TO reverse the en-
CINE and drive it back upon the enemy.
With such n reason there could he no
more hesitation. 1t Is said that some
three or four had already got Off at the
first word of command; but the most Of
us had hesitated, not on account OF tho
still rapid motion Of the train, but in the
idle hope that in some way this terrible
parting might be avcrted. Now one
after another clambered down ON the step
and swung off. | was neither among
the first nor the last, and jumping unskill-
fully out from the step, instead Of for
ward, whirled over and over on hands and
feet for several revolutions. Rising In Il
dazed condition, though unhurt, with the
exception OF q few scratches from the
looked over the animated scene with the
deepest interest. Tho men who jumped
off were, according to instructions, flying
in different directions, a few others were
Just coming off the engine in much the
same way that l had done, while tho en-
gineers were attempting to carry out their
scheme Of reversing the engine, which
could do no good now, except possibly to
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